Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Kojo Nnamdi Show Highlights the Competitive Bidding Debate

The Kojo Nnamdi Show, a two hour news and political issues program on NPR, decided to take on competitive bidding today in a segment titled “Medicare and the Free Market.”

The piece aired just after 1:00 p.m. ET and featured Cara Bachenheimer, Senior Vice President of Government Relations for Invacare as well as Julie Rovner, Health Policy Correspondent for NPR and Alec Vachon, D.C. consultant and former Republican staffer on the Senate Finance Committee.

Nnamdi introduced the program with a statement alluded to research showing equipment can be purchased online for much less than what Medicare is currently paying. Cara Bachenheimer addressed the Internet argument by saying “services and portability of equipment are the bulk of oxygen equipment and 72-78% of service is not equipment related. This program is a disaster for seniors; health care services are being auctioned off.”

Bachenheimer mentioned the program as it stands is government sanctioned price setting and will be a small business impact. She also made it clear that the industry sees accreditation as a positive.